Just Been Diagnosed or Started Treatment?
If you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with cancer, or has experienced a recurrence of cancer after having been in remission, you may feel lost or confused about where to turn for help. Knowing the most basic terminology about cancer diagnosis and treatment is not an easy feat, but it is the first step in becoming a proactive participant in your own care. As you embark on your cancer journey, you will be exposed to many new terms and processes that may feel overwhelming at first. By educating yourself about your diagnosis and the process by which your doctor will choose and prescribe treatment, you can improve your ability to make conscious and informed decisions about your treatment plan and overall health.
Standard treatment (also known as standard of care, standard medical care, best practice, and standard therapy) is a term used to describe treatment that is accepted by medical experts as a proper treatment for a certain type of disease, and that is widely used by healthcare professionals. For patients with cancer, the choice of standard treatment is determined by a number of factors including the stage, location, and history of their cancer. Today, oncologists are treating cancer “smarter” using precision medicine tools that can reveal more personal and unique information about a patient’s tumor. As a result, more patients are beating cancer today than ever before.
MyCancer.com is designed to help you understand what standard treatment can do for you and how precision medicine can influence your treatment plan. These pages will encourage you to get to know the members of your medical team, understand how cancer grows and spreads in the body, and familiarize yourself with the different types of treatment you may encounter on your road to recovery.
Reading these pages will help you feel empowered about your treatment options, ask the right questions, and work with your medical team in designing the most appropriate personalized treatment plan.